Welcome to the Reuters Before the Bell news mail.

Wall Street is hoping today's employment data will help the market flourish in the same way that the rain falling on the financial district is nourishing whatever grass and trees are there. Stock futures are pointing up.

The figures, which are due shortly, are particularly important after mixed messages earlier in the week. The ADP report showed an unexpected rise in private-sector jobs for March, but the U.S. government said the number of workers applying for unemployment benefits last week was at a 2 1/2-year high.

As for today, analysts are expecting the Labor Department's March employment report to show a loss of 60,000 jobs.

U.S. Treasuries are higher. The dollar is down against the euro and steady against the yen. Oil is again benefiting from the greenback's weakness, with U.S. crude up past $104.50 a barrel.

Two Fed officials are speaking today.

Family Dollar Stores brought in fewer dollars in the latest quarter, with profit and sales both down, and it cut its forecast because of deteriorating economic conditions.

But Mosaic reported sharply higher earnings on strong demand and pricing for its fertilizers.

Talk about a gigantic "oops." One of the masterminds of the 1998 merger that created Citigroup told the Financial Times that the deal turned out to be a mistake, although he's not sure whether the fault lies in the company's business model or management.